Third suspended replay staffer identified but declines comment

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The other replay booth staffer involved in San Diego State’s “Replaygate” game against Brigham Young University has been identified as a BYU grad who lives in Provo, Utah.

The staffer, Rob Moon, served as the replay technician in BYU’s 24-21 win against San Diego State Oct. 9. He assisted head replay official Mike Angelis, a deli owner from Reno, and Chad Bunn, a BYU employee and graduate who worked the game as the replay communicator for the Mountain West Conference.

All three were suspended by the MWC for botching a replay review that led to BYU’s win in Provo. The replay technician’s identity previously wasn’t publicly known. Moon politely declined comment when reached by The San Diego Union-Tribune. He referred all questions to the MWC.

“I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to tell my side,” he said. “But I’m going to have to decline comment.”

The other two replay staffers also declined comment. The Union-Tribune reported last week that a BYU employee (Bunn) was working for the league in the replay booth for the SDSU game. That revelation triggered concerns at SDSU over an apparent conflict of interest. It also led to a decision Friday by the MWC’s athletic directors to ban school employees or alumni from working for the league as a replay communicator in games involving their schools’ teams.

An explanation of what happened in the booth on that play may never become public because the three replay booth personnel won't comment and the MWC has a policy of not commenting on specific officiating calls. In this case, Angelis missed or misinterpreted what television replays showed was an obvious lost fumble by BYU running back JJ Di Luigi late in the third quarter.

Despite the obvious footage on TV, Angelis decided there wasn’t enough video evidence to rule it was a fumble. BYU then retained possession as a result and proceeded to score a touchdown five plays later for a 24-14 lead.

The replay booth is staffed by three personnel hired by the league: the head replay official, the replay communicator and replay technician. Previously the ban on school employees and alumni only applied to on-field officials and the head replay official, who makes the decision on whether to overturn calls based on video evidence. The replay communicator’s job is to work with the TV production crew to provide the head replay official with the best video footage to make decisions. The replay technician helps run the replay booth software and make sure the equipment is operating properly.

The ban does not apply to the replay technician in part because that position was not deemed to have an impact on replay decisions. That means Moon can return to work for the league after serving his one-game suspension. Because of the policy change, Bunn is prohibited from returning to work as a replay communicator in BYU games.

SDSU Athletic Director Jim Sterk said he was told the head replay official at BYU “did not see the video everyone else saw” but hasn’t received many details beyond that.

Like other leagues, the MWC has a policy to not publicly comment on specific officiating matters. This is because the league membership generally does not think it beneficial to air its dirty laundry in public.

A league spokesman said such matters are “internal” and that the league also prefers its replay staffers to not comment. As a result, the details of Replaygate may remain a mystery indefinitely.

A report on the league’s overall replay system is expected at league meetings in May.